Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act
Starting in the 1960s, grassroots efforts to support victims of crime gained momentum throughout the United States. In April 1982, President Ronald Reagan issued an executive order creating a task force to determine what the Federal Government could do to improve the treatment of crime victims.
Acting on the findings of the task force, on October 12, 1984, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was signed into law. This seminal legislation provided federal funding for the Crime Victims Fund to support crime victim compensation programs and local victim assistance programs.
In 1988, an amendment to VOCA authorized the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to administer the Crime Victims Fund.
This month, we commemorate VOCA’s 40th anniversary by reflecting on the progress that the field has achieved over the last four decades. Use the sample materials in our VOCA 40th Anniversary toolkit to help us raise awareness about victims’ rights and services.
View the VOCA 40th Anniversary Resources
2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Theme Now Available
Since 1981, each observance of National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW) has challenged the Nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime. During NCVRW, we celebrate the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come.
OVC will lead communities across the Nation as we commemorate NCVRW on April 6–12, 2025, and we are pleased to announce that the 2025 NCVRW theme is—
Connecting < KINSHIP > Healing
This year’s theme of KINSHIP is a call to action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. KINSHIP is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections and increases access to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins.
Sign up for OVC’s NCVRW Subscription List to receive important NCVRW updates, including information about the release of the 2025 NCVRW Resource Guide materials.
National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
In his National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month proclamation, President Biden states, “Everyone deserves to live free from the fear of violence, especially in their own home. During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, we recommit to extending support and resources to all survivors, continuing to hold perpetrators accountable, and ensuring that our society is truly safe for everyone.”
Visit the Domestic Violence Awareness Project website for sample social media images and posts to help your organization raise awareness.
Discover OVC-sponsored resources to help victims of domestic violence and the service providers and allied professionals who assist them.
A Conversation With Nancy Blaney: Shelter Services for Survivors and Their Companion Animals
Learn how the need for secure housing for victims of crime and their companion animals led to the creation of the Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grant Program in this Justice Today podcast. OVC Director Kristina Rose and Nancy Blaney, Director of Government Affairs at the Animal Welfare Institute, speak about how this program is ensuring that victims and their pets can access shelter services.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Domestic Violence Hotline advocates are available 24/7 for those experiencing intimate partner violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. Survivors and concerned loved ones can contact the hotline toll free at 800-799-7233, text “START” to 88788, or use their online chat. The hotline is funded in part by OVC.
StrongHearts Native Helpline
StrongHearts, a 24/7 hotline funded in part by OVC, is a lifeline to Native American and Alaska Natives impacted by domestic and sexual violence. They provide culturally appropriate, confidential help to survivors, family, friends, and partners questioning their own behavior.
To speak with a StrongHearts advocate, call or text 844-7NATIVE (762-8483), or chat online.
Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium
The Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium supports direct service providers that assist survivors experiencing homelessness.
The Consortium brings together national, state, and local organizations with expertise on housing and interpersonal trauma in order to collaboratively build and strengthen technical assistance to both housing/homelessness providers and victim service providers.
Submit a technical assistance request to the Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium for help addressing the intersection of domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness in your community.
Safe Shelter Collaborative
The Safe Shelter Collaborative and SafeNight app provide support to victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault seeking urgent shelter. Direct service programs can connect with other local shelters upon joining the Collaborative to identify available beds, and private individuals can make tax-deductible donations to secure hotel rooms until shelter space is available. The OVC-funded SafeNight app was produced by Caravan Studios, a division of TechSoup.
WomensLaw Email Hotline: REACH Project
The WomensLaw Email Hotline provides legal crisis intervention support to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The OVC-funded REACH Project is working to increase awareness of the hotline’s Spanish language services, with an emphasis on reaching monolingual and immigrant Spanish-speakers.
The REACH Project is a program of the National Network to End Domestic Violence in partnership with Esperanza United, a culturally specific organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence against Latin@ communities.
Additional Resources
Find additional resources and information on the Intimate Partner Violence section of our site.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
“During National Cybersecurity Month, we recommit to protecting our data and technologies from malicious hackers and cyber threats. We encourage all Americans to learn more about cybersecurity.” – President Biden, Cybersecurity Awareness Month proclamation.
Access the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and National Cybersecurity Alliance’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit for campaign materials to educate the public about online safety (registration required).
During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we highlight OVC and OVC-sponsored resources to help the public stay safe online and resources that can help victims recover from cybercrime.
Tech Safety App
The Tech Safety App provides resources for victims of technology-facilitated stalking or abuse. This app helps users understand how technology can be misused and what they can do about technology abuse, and provides safety and privacy tips. This OVC-funded app was created by the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
Identity Theft Resource Center
The Identity Theft Resource Center provides hotline services to victims of identity theft Monday–Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. eastern time by phone at 888-400-5530 or live chat. The Center and its hotline are funded in part by OVC.
National Elder Fraud Hotline
The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline, managed by OVC, provides services to adults ages 60 and older who may be victims of financial fraud. Contact the Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), Monday–Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time.